NPOESS Userport

Jason-2: Using Satellite Altimetry to Monitor the Ocean
Time:  1.25 hours

Altimeters onboard satellites such as Jason-2 measure sea surface height and other characteristics of the ocean surface. These characteristics are linked to underlying processes and structures, making altimetry data useful for understanding the full depth of the global ocean. This 75-minute module explores major discoveries made possible by altimetry data in oceanography, marine meteorology, the marine geosciences, climate studies, the cryosphere, and hydrology. For example, altimeters have played a vital role in detecting and monitoring sea level rise and its relation to climate change. The module also describes many of the practical applications of altimetry data, for example, in hurricane forecasting and monitoring climate events such as ENSO. Finally, the module describes Jason-2, which was launched in 2008, its products and services, and the Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM), of which it is a part. OSTM is a collaboration between EUMETSAT and CNES (Europe) and NOAA and NASA (United States).

Microwave Remote Sensing Topics Distance Learning Course
Time:  4-6 hours

This self-paced distance learning course, an organized collection of previously published materials, provides learners with a foundation in the science, products, and applications of space-based satellite microwave remote sensing. To receive a course completion certificate, you must successfully complete at a minimum the three core modules:

• Microwave Remote Sensing: Clouds, Precipitation, and Water Vapor
• Microwave Remote Sensing: Land and Ocean Surface
• Advances in Microwave Remote Sensing: Ocean Wind Speed and Direction

For those with an additional interest in this topic, the course Web site provides extra materials including a module introducing microwave remote sensing for environmental applications, a module giving background information about microwave remote sensing from polar-orbiting satellites, and two application focused modules on tropical cyclones and tropical rainfall potential. The total time to complete the entire course including optional portions is approximately 8 to 9 hours.

Advanced Satellite Sounding: The Benefits of the Hyperspectral Observation
Time:  1 hour

This webcast is an expert lecture presented by Dr. Mitch Goldberg, Chief of the Satellite Meteorology and Climatology Division at NOAA/NESDIS. His presentation is divided into four sections 1) the importance of satellite observing systems, 2) a brief review of remote sensing principles, 3) results from current observing systems including AIRS, IASI, and CrIS, and 4) the importance of having hyperspectral soundings also taken from geostationary orbit. The lecture introduces listeners to what hyperspectral observations are, how they are done, some current products, and how these observations contribute to improved monitoring of atmospheric temperature, moisture, and even trace gases, environmental hazards, climate, oceans, and land. It also discusses how these data lead to improvements in numerical weather prediction.

Creating Meteorological Products from Satellite Data
Time:  1 hour

This module presents an overview of how satellite data are turned into the satellite products used by operational forecasters and the research and educational communities, etc. The module begins by describing the process of creating simple image products that use relatively simple image manipulation techniques to highlight properties such as wind-blown dust, vegetation, and cloud phase. The module then describes some of the more complex processes involved in generating quantitative products, such as cloud identification, atmospheric instability, wildfire characterization, and sea surface temperature. Finally, the module introduces advanced products that use the thousands of channels on hyperspectral instruments to derive a variety of geophysical parameters related to the characterization of aerosols, trace gases, cloud microphysics, and atmospheric profiling, etc. The discussion of quantitative products uses the example of the Meteosat cloud mask, which indicates whether a pixel in a satellite image is clear or cloudy. Cloud mask products are important to all environmental satellites in that they form the basis for many other derived products.

Microwave Remote Sensing: Land and Ocean Surface Applications
Time:  2 hours

This module introduces the concepts and principles basic to retrieving important land and ocean surface properties using microwave remote sensing observations from polar-orbiting satellites. Section one reviews the advantages of microwave remote sensing from polar-orbiting platforms and briefly highlights some of the unique spectral characteristics that allow for differentiation between various surface types and properties. Subsequent sections present a more in-depth look at the derivation and application of microwave products that quantify four different land and ocean surface properties and their characteristics, including snow cover and water equivalent, sea ice, surface wetness and soil moisture, and sea surface temperature. The module reviews both past and current satellite missions and also discusses the future NPOESS constellation that is expected to include a passive microwave sensing capability beginning with the second NPOESS satellite.

Multispectral Satellite Applications: Monitoring the Wildland Fire Cycle
Time:  1.5 to 2 hours

This module describes current and future satellite instruments and products used for monitoring the fire cycle, with an emphasis on polar-orbiting satellites. Product information is presented in the context of the fire cycle: from assessing the pre- and post-fire environment to detecting and monitoring active fires, smoke, and aerosols. Product information is also consolidated in the Fire Product Suite, available in the module and as a PDF file. The module concludes with an interactive fire case study, supplemented with observations from a National Weather Service forecaster who experienced the fire. The module is intended for a wide range of users involved with wildfire detection and monitoring, including land use managers, hydrologists, weather forecasters, and researchers.

Microwave Remote Sensing: Microwave Resources
Time:  1 hour

This resource collection provides background information on microwave remote sensing with polar-orbiting satellites. It reviews coverage, orbits, and data latency issues of current operational and selected research satellites, also noting improvements expected with future NPP and NPOESS satellites. The collection contrasts active vs. passive remote sensing, advantages and limitations of different microwave instrument scanning strategies, and satellite viewing geometry. The module also offers a review of the microwave spectrum and the special characteristics of microwave energy for creating satellite imagery and derived products.

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